BILLY McEwan has assured Mark Hotte that his role as captain of York City has not been placed in jeopardy by his struggle to break back into the team.

Hotte is set to be on the bench for the sixth successive game at Gravesend and Northfleet tomorrow (1pm kick-off) and last tasted Conference action more than a month ago during the 1-0 victory over Cambridge United.

The 27-year-old defender lost his place to James Dudgeon after suffering a back injury and the team has also been skippered capably in his absence by Emmanuel Panther with first-choice deputy Nathan Peat having also been sidelined by a calf problem.

But McEwan has confirmed that Hotte is still proving his prowess as captain off the field and the City boss is hoping that he the former Scarborough defender is using his time out of the team to concentrate on making himself a better player.

McEwan said: "Mark's obviously disappointed but he knows the situation and his attitude has been first class. You can't just change the team because he's the captain and was my first signing.

"He's still the captain of York City and is a good professional, which is one of the main reasons I signed him. He's a super kid and it's up to him to be fit and ready when he gets his chance.

"He's got to make sure that all the time he's been out he's been working on his weaknesses. All the players have weaknesses and the same applies to Ashley Winn, Dave Pounder, Ryan Mallon and others. They have to be ready when their opportunity comes, as it will, and if they are not playing reserve games one week then they have got to work even harder in training."

Vice-captain Peat has recovered from his injury but is unlikely to force his way ahead of Dave Merris at left-back for tomorrow's Stonebridge Road clash having been out of action for the same length of time as Hotte.

But striker Jermaine Palmer, whose loan spell from Grimsby Town ends next Saturday, is expected to be back on the bench after missing out against Exeter because McEwan opted for Michael Staley as a substitute due to injury concerns over David McGurk and Dudgeon.

McEwan has also warned his side to guard against the complacency that he felt contributed to a defeat on the Minstermen's last trip down south which saw Aldershot run out 2-1 winners.

He said: "Gravesend are a strong side who have just got a good draw at Accrington, who are doing well. The people in charge at Gravesend are well-respected at this level and their team will give us a tough, tough battle, as any side will away from home in the Conference.

"We were taught that lesson at Aldershot. One or two of our players felt they had arrived and could strut their stuff in that match and we got rolled over which should have given us a wake-up call."

City boss McEwan also added that an inquiry from a Football League club had been made for unwanted defender and former manager Chris Brass but the interest was not followed up.

Tomorrow's squads

Gravesend v York City

(at Stonebridge Road)

Gravesend & Northfleet (probable): Holloway, Protheroe, Smith, McCarthy, Skinner, Slatter, Saunders, Jackson, Durey, McDonald. Subs: Grant, Sodje, Omoyimni, Gooding, Kerr.

City (probable): Porter, Price, McGurk, Dudgeon, Merris, Convery, Panther, Dunning, Stewart, Bishop, Donaldson. Subs: Afandiyev, Yalcin, O'Neill, Hotte, Palmer.

Ref: Michael Bull (Chelmsford).

Kick-off: 1pm

Updated: 10:39 Friday, October 07, 2005